Koshiyaga Alphas Filipino center Kai Sotto in a Japan B.League game against Kawasaki. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Kai Sotto showed his major progression once more in the Japan B.League following the Koshigaya Alphas’ 100-74 win over the Kawasaki Brave Thunders at Koshigaya City Gymnasium on Sunday.
The Gilas big man registered a monster double-double with a game-high 25 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Alphas. LJ Peak also helped his team’s cause with 22 to his name to push them to a 6-12 record.
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Sotto, whose improved play has been on full display for this Japan B.League season, got the nod from his Koshigaya coach Ryuzo Anzai
READ: Kai Sotto dominates anew in B.League after Gilas stint
“Kai is an exceptional athlete who moves incredibly well for his height and transitions seamlessly from fakes to dunks,” Anzai said in a post on the Koshiaga’s X account. “As a coach, it’s my job to figure out how to further develop his skills. I want to see him progress to the next level.”
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Fellow Filipino import Matthew Wright, on the other end, struggled mightily with only four points and a steal for the Brave Thunders as they dropped to 4-14 for the season.
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Fellow Gilas cornerstone Dwight Ramos also had a victorious weekend as his Levanga Hokkaido zoomed past the Akita Northern Happinets, 69-61, at Hokkai Kita-Yale.
While Ramos only had a limited action of eight minutes, he still managed to finish with six points and a rebound. It was Shuto Terazono who spearheaded Levanga with 19 points to improve to a 6-12 card.
Levanga Hokkaido’s Dwight Ramos during a Japan B.League game. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO
Ray Parks Jr.’s Osaka Evessa also tallied a win over the Shibuya Sun Rockers, 76-70, at Ookini Arena Maishima.
Parks Jr. made the most of his 35 minutes of action with an all-around effort of 12 points, five rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block to power Osaka to 10-8.
READ: Kai Sotto puts on impressive showing to defend Gilas home court
AJ Edu, however, wasn’t so lucky as his Nagasaki Velca succumbed to Alvark Tokyo, 83-81, at Happiness Arena.
Edu didn’t score much with just four points but his work on the paint was huge for Velca as he snagged eight rebounds plus a block. Still, it wasn’t enough as Nagasaki crashed to a 7-11 record.
Roosevelt Adams and the Yamagata Wyverns also fell victim to Rising Zephyr Fukuoka, 89-78, at Yamagata Prefectural Sports Park.
In 30 minutes of action, Adams finished with eight points and six rebounds but it wasn’t enough as the Wyverns dropped to 8-13.
However, no Filipino import probably felt disheartened more than Geo Chiu as his Ehime Orange Vikings absorbed a tough 108-58 loss at the hands of Shinshu Brave Warriors at White Ring.
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Ehime dropped to an abysmal 1-20 record while Chiu only tallied five rebounds and an assist in the loss.